Resilient front buster



Sept. 11,1923. 1,467,386

G. A. LYON RESILIENT FRONT BUFFER Original Filed Jan. 16, 1920 A TTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 11, 1923.

.UNITED STATES GEORGE ALBERT LYON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RESILIEN'I FRONT BUFFER.

Original application filed January 16, 1920, Serial No. 351,818. Dividedand this application filed February 3, 1922. Serial No. 533,838.. I

To aZ-Z'whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ALBERT LYON,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of Philadelphia, county ofPhiladelphia, 5 State of Pennsylvania, have made a certain new anduseful Invention Relating to Re silient Front Bulfers, of which thefollowing is a specification, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No.351,818 filed January 16. 1920, the subject matter being takentherefrom.

This inventionrelates especially to resilient buffers or buffer frontmembers for automobiles or other vehicles 1 in which spring steel orother resilient strip is used for the buffer frontto secure'increasedresilient yielding action under collision conditions. One or more stripsof spring steel or other suitable material may be used to form thebuffer front which may comprise end loops formed by bending the stripback upon itself in the same or opposite directions so that such stripends may be clamped or otherwise connected adjacent the ends of thecentral impact receiving portion of the buffer front. The ends of thestrips which form the loops may in some cases be bent 30 to form aninwardly turned loop adjacent each end of the central impact receivingpor tion of the buffer front where all of the spring strips may beclamped together and in this case additional spring yielding action issecured when the attaching members of spring steel strip or otherconstruction are clamped or secured to the end loops. Although theentire buffer front may be made of a single piece or strip of suchresilient material it may, if desired, be formed of two strips which mayin some cases be of generally similar shape and have overlappingportions which may be adjustably or otherwise connected together to forma double thickness reenforced portion at the central impact receivingpart of the buffer front. This type of construction also has practicaladvantages, since it makes possible a smaller package when the buffer isshipped in disassembled condition.

The accompanying drawing shows in a somewhat diagrammatic'way a numberof illustrative embodiments of the invention in plan view. 1

In the form of bufier shown in Fig. 1, the

bufl'er front may as indicated comprise one or more strips of temperedspring steel or other suitable resilient material which may, forexample, be a quarter to threeeighths of an inch thick and one andthree-quarters plurality of similarly shaped spring strip= elementswhich may have overlapping ends or portions adjacent the central impactreceiving portion of the bufi'er, 0ne of these overlapping strip endsbeing clamped, if desired, to the other strip end by the two clampingdevices 36, 37, so that a double thickness ree-nforced impact receivingmember is thus formed. Loop ends may be formed on the buffer by bendingthe strip ends so as to form theend loops 21, 29 and also, if desired,the inwardly turned inner loops 23, 27 on the rear portions of theselooped ends, so that the strip ends 24, 39 and 26, 38 may be brought outsubstantially in line after passing through the clamping devices,although it is of course understood that such strip ends may beotherwise clamped or permanently secured together in any suitable waywhere lateral adjustment of the buffer front is not thought necessary.By using such enclosing clamping devices as 36, 37, which may betightened by screwing home the bolts 16, the buffer strips may beadjustably connected together so that the width of the buffer front maybe adjusted'to suit different automobiles or. other vehicles and thefront elements may of course be disconnected for packing and shippingwhich is an additional advantage. Any suitableform of attaching membersmay be used with a buffer front of this general character and asindicated the attaching members 32, may be formed of resilient or springsteel strip and may have the outwardly curved portions 31 3 1, so thatthe connector portions 30, 33 come substantially into line with theadjacent connector portions of the end loops to which theymay be securedas by the enclosing clamping devices 38, 39.

v I Fig. 2 shows a generally similar form of Spring buffer front whichmay comprise an integral strip, such as 46, formed on each end with bentportions or end loops 45, 48 which may have rearwardly inclined frontportions 47 to which the rear portions 44, 49 may be substantiallyparallel. Similar inwardly turned inner loops 43, 50 may be used in thisinstance also, so that the strip ends 42, 51 are outwardly directed inthis case and are substantially parallel to the adjacent front portionsof the strips. If desired an additional reenforcing member or resilientstrip 41 maybe used at the central impact receiving portion of thebuffer front and may be secured to the other strips or members in anysuitable way as by suitable clamping devices 52, 53, thus making abuffer front which has a pleasing appearance. Similar attaching members58, 61 may be used in this case and may have outwardly curved yieldingportions 57, and connector end portions 56, 59 secured as by the clips54, 55 to the cooperating portions of the buffer front.

Fig. 3 shows a buffer front which may be composed of two front strips82, 86 of generally similar shape, each of which may be formed with anintegral end loop, such as 83, 87. By overlapping the relativelystraight or similarly curved ends of these re silient strips a doublethickness or reenforced portion of the buffer may be formed and it issometimes desirable to have the front stri zis bent back upon themselvesin opposite 'directionsto form these end loops, so that the strip ends84, 88 are on opposite sides of the central or impact receiving portionof the buffer front. Suitable attaching members, such as 93, 97, may beused in this case and may be formed with connector portions 90, 94adjustably connected to the other strips or members as by the clampingdevices 98, 99 so as to secure adjustment beforms proportions. parts,arrangements, ma-

terials, methods of connection and use, to the details of whichdisclosure the invention is not of course to be limited, since what isclaimed as new and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:

1'. The automobile bufit'er comprising a resilient bufi'er front formedof tempered steel strip having considerably greater vertical width thanthickness and comprising aireeriforced central. impact receiving portionand end loop portions formed by bending such spring strip back uponitself in opposite directions and bending forward and outward theinturned ends of said strips to form inwardly turned inner loops andadjacent connector portions and enclosing clamping devices adjustablyconnecting said connector portions to the adjacent portions of saidcentral impact receiving portion of the buffer front, resilient stripattaching members having outwardly and forwardly bent connector portionsand clamping devices adjustably securing said connector portions to thebuffer front adjacent the end loops thereof.

2. The automobile buffer comprising a resilient buffer front formed ofspring steel strip having considerably greater vertical width thanthickness and comprising a reenforced central impact receiving portion,

ing members having connector portions and clamping devices adjustablysecuring said connector portions to the buffer front adjacent the endloops thereof.

3. The automobile buffer comprising a resilient buffer front formed ofsteel strip having considerably greater vertical width than thicknessand comprising a central impact receiving portion and end loop portionsformed by bending such spring strip back upon itself and bending theinturned ends of said end loop portions to form inwardly turned innerloops and adjacent connector portions and clamping devices adjustablyconnecting said connector portions to the adjacent portions of thebuffer front and resilient strip attaching members having bent connectorportions and clamping devices adjustably securing said connectorportions to the buffer front adjacent the end loops thereof.

4. The automobile buffer comprising a resilient buffer front formed ofsteel strip having considerably greater vertical width than thicknessand con'iprising a central impact receiving portion and end loopportions formed by bending such spring strip back upon itself andbending the inturned ends of said end loop portions to form inner loopsand adjacent connector portions and clamping devices connecting saidconnector portions to the adjacent portions of the buffer front andattaching members having connector portions and devices adjustablysecuring said connector portions to the buffer front adjacent the endloops thereof.

fill

5. The automobile buifer comprising a re silient bufl'er front formed ofresilient flat steel strip having considerably greater vertical Widththan thickness and comprising a multiple strip central impact receivingportion and end loops integral therewith, the inturned portions of theend loops being bent forward and outward to form inwardly inturne'dinner loops and adjacent connector portions adjacent the connectorportions of the impact receiving portion of the buffer front andenclosing clamping devices adjustably connecting said connector portionsto connect the buffer front elements, and attaching members and clampingdevices adjustably securing said attaching members to the rear strips ofthe end loop portions of the buffer front.

6. The automobile buffer comprising a resilient buffer front formed ofsteel strip having considerably greater vertical Width than thicknessand comprising a multiple strip central impact receiving portion and endloops, the inturned portions of the end loops being hent to form innerloops and adjacent connector portions adjacent the connector portions ofthe impact receiving portion of the buffer front and clamping devicesadjustably connecting said connec tor portionsto connect the bufferfront elements, and attaching members and clamping devices securing saidattaching members to the rear strips of the end loop portions of thebuffer front.

7. The automobile buffer con'iprising a resilient buffer front formed ofsteel strip having considerably greater vertical width than thicknessand comprising a multiple strip central impact receiving portion andintegral end loops having rear portions substantially parallel to thecorresponding front portions, the inturned portions of the end loopsbeing bent to form inwardly turned inner loops and adjacent connectorportions adjacent the connector portions of the impact receiving portionof the strip and securing means adjustably connecting said connectorportions to connect the buf fer front elements, and resilient strip attaching members having bent connector por tions engaging adjacent themid rear portions of said end loops and clamping devices adjustablysecuring said connector" portions to the rear strips of the endloopportions of the buffer front.

8. The automobile bufl'er comprising a resilient buffer front formed ofsteel strip having considerably greater vertical Width than thicknessans comprising a multiple strip central impact receiving portion andintegral end loops the inturneu portions of the end loops being bent toform inner loops and adjacent connector portions adjacent the connectorportions of the impact receiving portion of the strip and securing meansconnecting said connector portions to con nect' the buffer frontelements and resilient strip attaching members having bent connectorportions and clamping devices securing said connector portions to therear strips of the end loop portions of the buffer front.

9. The resilient buffer front formed of steel strip having considerablygreater vertical Width than thickness and comprising a multiple stripcentral impact receiving portion'and integral end loops, the inturnedportions of the end loops being bent to form inner loops and adjacentconnector portions adjacent the connector portions of the impactreceiving portion of the strip and securing means connecting saidconnector portions to connect the buffer front elements.

10. The resilient buffer front formed of spring steel strip havingconsiderably greater vertical'width than thickness and comprising areenforced central impact receiving portion and end loop portions formedby bending s'uch spring strip back upon itself in opposite directionsand bending forward the inturned ends of said strips to form inwardlyturned inner loops and adjacent connector portions and clamping devicesadjustably connecting said connector portions to the adjacent portionsof said central impact receiving portion of the buffer front.

11. The resilient buffer front formed of steel strip having considerablygreater ver tical width thanthickness and comprising a central impactreceiving portion and end loop portions formed by bending such springstrip back upon itself into substantially parallel position and bendingthe inturned ends of said end loop portions to form inner loops andadjacent connector portions and clamping devices connecting saidconnectorport-ions to the adjacent portions of the buffer front.

12. The resilient bufferfront formed of tempered spring steel striphaving considerably greater vertical Width than thickness and comprisingdouhle strip central impact receiving portion and end loop portionsformed by bending such spring strip back upon itself in oppositedirections into substantially parallel position and bending forward andoutward the inturned ends of such strip to-form inwardly turned innerloops and adjacent connector portions and enclosing clamping devicesadjustably con necting said connector portions to the ad jacent portionsof said central impact receiving portion of the buffer front.

13. The resilient buffer front formed of tempered spring steel striphaving considerably greater vertical width than thickness and comprisinga double strip central impact receiving portion and end loops havingrear portions substantially parallel. to the corresponding frontportions and formed by lll) bendingsuch spring strip back upon itself inopposite directions and bending the inturned ends of such strip to forminwardly turned inner loops and adjacent connector portions and clampingdevices connecting said connector portions to the adjacent portions ofsaid central impact. receiving portion of the buffer front.

14:. The resilient buffer front formed of steel strip and comprisingamultiple strip central impact receiving portion. and end loops havingrear portions substantially parallel to the corresponding frontportions, the inturned portions of the end loops being bent to forminner loops and adjacent connector portions adjacent the end connectorportions of the central impact receiving portion of the strip andclamping devices adjustably connecting said connector portions toconnect the buffer front elements.

15. The resilient buffer front formed of steel strip and comprisinga'i'ziultiple strip central impact receiving portion and end loops, theinturned portions of the end loops being bent to form connectorportionsadjacent the connector portions of the central impact receivingportion of the strip and clamping devices connectingsaid connectorportions to connect the buffer front elements.

16. The automobile buffer front comprising two similar elements of flatsteel strip having considerably greater vertical width than thicknessand each having a closed loop portion adapted to extend into protectiveposition adjacent the vehicle wheels than thickness and each having aclosed loop portion adapted to extend into protective position ad acentthe vehicle wheels and comprising an inner adjacent connector portionadjacent the front strip of the element and having a transverselyextending impact receiving portion connected to the impact receivingportion and loop portion of the other element to form. a multiple stripcentral impact receiving portion of the buffer front.

1.8. The automobilebufler front comprising two similar elements of flatsteel strip having considerably greater vertical width than thicknessandeach having a closed end loop portion comprising an. inner" connectorportion adjacent the front strip of the ele-.

ment and having a transversely extending comprising two elements ofsteel strip each.

having a closed loop having a rear portion substantially parallel to itsfront portion and'adapted to extend into protective position adjacentthe vehicle wheels and having a transversely extending impactreceiving portion to be connected to the impact receiving portion'of theother element and form a central impact receiving portion of the bufferfront. a

21. The automobile bufi'er front formed of steel strip havingconsiderably greater vertical width than thickness and comprising endloops adapted to extend into protective position adjacent the vehiclewheels and a central reenforced impact receiving portion comprising anumber of substantially contacting thicknesses'of such strip integralwith the strip forming said end loops and enclosing clamping devicesholding said loops together.

22. The automobile buffer front comprising a single strip of steelhaving consider ably greater vertical width than thickness and havingend loops and a central reenforced impact receiving portion comprismg anumber'of thicknesses of such strip integral with the strip forming saidend loops, and clamping devices enclosing and holding closely andrigidly together said strip.

23. The automobile buffer front comprising a single strip of temperedspring steel.

having considerably greater vertical width than thickness and havingendloops and a central reenforced impact receiving portion comprising anumber of thicknesses of such spring strip integral with the strip forming said end loops, and additional spring strip reenforcing membersandclamping devices enclosing and holding rigidly together said pring stripadjacent the ends of said central impact receiving'portion.

24:. The automobile buffer comprising a resilient buffer front formed ofstrip having considerably greater vertical width than thickness andcomprising end loops adapted to extend into protective position adjacentthe vehicle wheels and a central reenforced impact receiving portioncomprising a number of thicknesses of such strip integral with the stripforming said end loops and additional spring strip reenforcing members,and devices holding closely and rigidly together said strips adjacentthe ends of said central impact receiving portion, and attaching membersto support the bufier front from the frame of the vehicle.

25. The automobile buffer comprising a resilient buffer front formed ofstrip spring steel having considerably greater vertical width thanthickness and comprising end loops adapted to extend into protectiveposition adjacent the vehicle wheels and a central reenforced impactreceiving portion comprising a number of thicknesses of such springstrip integral with the strip forming said end loops and additionalspring .strip reenforcing members, and clamping devices enclosing andholding rigidly together said spring strips adjacent the ends of saidcentral impact receiving portion, and attaching members adjustablyengaging said clamping devices to support the buffer front from theframe of the vehicle.

26. The buffer front comprising two closed horizontally disposed springloops having curved ends and spaced one from the other, a double stripimpact surface between them in line with their forward sides and meansadjustable along their rear sides for attaching the buffer front to avehicle.

27. The buffer front comprising two closed horizontally disposed springloops having curved ends and spaced one from the other, a double stripimpact urface between them in line with their forward sides and meansadjustable along their rear sides for attaching the buffer front to aVehicle, the front side of each of said loops being ex tendedtransversely toward the respective opposed loop and terminating adjacentthe inner side of such loop.

28. The buffer front comprising two closed horizontally disposed springloops spaced one from the other, a double strip impact surface betweenthem in line with their forward sides and means adjustable along theirrear sides for attaching the buffer front to a vehicle, the front sideof each of said loops being extended transversely toward the respectiveopposed loop and terminating adjacent the inner side of such loop.

29. The buffer front made up of two similar interlocking elements eachcomprising a substantially parallel closed loop having curved ends and alateral extension having an end terminating at and attached to theopposed loop.

- 30. The buffer front made up of two similar interlocking elements eachcomprising a closed loop and a lateral extension having an endterminating at and attached to the opposed loop.

31. The buffer front made up of two similarly bent interlocking flatspring strips bent to form a closed loop having curved ends at eitherend of the buffer front, said loops being horizontally disposed, thespring strips extending laterally from said loops across the bufferfront, the ends of the extensions being fastened at their extreme endsto the respective horizontally disposed loops.

32. The buffer front made up of two similarly bent interlocking fiatspring strips bent to form a closed loop at either end of the bufferfront, said loops being horizontally disposed, the spring stripsextending laterally fromsaid loops across the bufier front, the ends ofthe extensions being fastened at their extreme ends to the respectivehorizontally disposed loops.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON.

